Case



June 24, 1941..v H; J. .osBRNE cA's'E Filed 'April 4, 1938 IlI vri. 1.

Patented June 24, 1941 Harry J. Osborne, Elgn, Ill., assignor to Illinois Watch CaSeCompany, E

of Illinois lgin, Ill., a' corporation I Application April `4, mas, seriaiN. 199,9e9

f s claims. (email-129) My invention relates to a smallcase such as a vanity having an inner compartment Which is provided with a lid with a spring catch therefor adapted to be automatically released-upon completion of opening movement of the cover with p which the case is equipped.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide for the purpose indicatedl a one-piece structure which will serve in the several capacities of a hinge pin for the lid, a spring catch therefor, and a connection with the case cover for transmitting therefrom an operating motion to the catch, thereby7 conducing to economy in manufacture and assembly and dependability in service. i

Referring to the drawing, wherein a suggestve embodiment of my invention is illustrated- Figure l is a view in elevationrof the case with its cover opened to expose the interior thereof; Fig. 2 is a view in elevation looking toward the case side whereon a hinged connection is made with the cover;

Figs. 3 and 4 are details in section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2, showing the cover in closed and opened positions respectively;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of `the bowed arm `with upturned marginal edges defining a shallow compartment wherein may be fitted a platform B with downturned marginal edges adapted to fit closely within the margins of the case body. This platform, which is elevated with respect to the bottom of the case body, is cupped centrally to provide a shallow powder compartment or well having a recessed ledge IB around its upper edge. Fitting over the compartment thus provided is a lid C with an olTset marginal edge |2 adapted to rest upon the ledge surrounding the well. This lid is further provided With a laterally extending tongue |3 whose end is curved around to form a joint l4. Adjacent opposite edges of the tongue the platform is slitted, the platform area |5 between the slits being depressed to accommodate the tongue in flush relation with the upper platform surface.

I provide also a cover D for the case body having a hinge connection therewith. For this purpose the cover, which may be formed with marginal edge-s complementary to those of the case body, is provided with a plurality of spaced `aligned joints IS with which interfit other joints ll extended from one margin of the case body, or platform therein if preferred. A hinge connection is provided by a pintle IB which is extended through all of the joints so aligned. The interior of the cover may carry a platform IB furnishing a mounting for a mirror 20 or other desired fitting, there being a boss 2l provided at a point which is opposite the marginal edge of the lid and so disposed as to engage the lid when the cover .is advanced to its closed position.

With the hinge connection between the case body and cover I may associate a spring 22 whcreby the cover is normally urged to an open position. To hold the cover closed, I provide -a spring 23 which mounts a catch f having a finger piece 25 projecting out through a slot in the marginal wall of the case body convenient .for Operation. Upon applying pressure to the finger. piece the catch is actuated to disengage from a lp 26 which is extended inwardly from the swinging edge of the cover whereby to release the latter for opening movement.

The features which are special to this inven- .tion have to do with the means by which the lid `C is mounted and released for opening movement.

area l5 to serve as a hinge pintle.

As shown, I employ a tensioned bowed arm E one end 30 of which is formed to extend through the lid joint and past the platform depressed This bowed arm is provided also with an actuating boss 31 extending laterally at a point adjacent the hinge connection between the case body and cover so as to lie opposite a bumper Wall 32 which is afforded by a cut-out in one of the cover joints. continuing, the bowed arm extends around the powder compartment to a point nearly opposite the lid hinge where it is formed with a catch 33 adapted to releasably engage the olfset edge of the lid, or of a shoulder 34 therebelow in the case of a concealed type of catch (see Fig. 7). With opening movement of the cover, the bumper wall will be advanced to engage the actuating boss on the bowed arm whose pintle end may be firmly anchored in place; the other arm end which alone is free to move is thereupon shifted laterally, i. e., radially of the lid to move the catch away from engaging position therewith. Through a slot 35 in the platform this catch is extended, its movements being confined within the area thereof. Accordingly, release of the main catch 24, by which the case cover is caused to open in response to the tension of the spring 22, will produce automatically a sequential release of the lid catch when the bumper has advanced to the point of engagement with the boss on the bowed arm.

In use,`upon opening of the case cover, the lid catch will be retracted thereby facilitating complete opening of the lid, if desred. When the case cover is closed down, the lid also will be forced to closed position past the rounded or beveled edge of its catch which yields sufiiciently for this purpose. The lid is again held by the catch, thereby preventing any escape of loose contents, such as powder. The bowed arm at its pintle end is tapered, shouldered, or otherwise formed to remain fixedly anchored, and any operating pressure upon its actuating boss is exerted in a direction which is the opposite of that required for dislodgment of its pintle end. Release of the lid catch, in the structure shown, takes place only at completion of Opening movement of the case cover; by proper control, this movement may be arrested short of its limit whereby the lid catch is not released, thus maintaining the lid firmly closed.

I claim:

l. In a case, an inner lid hinged therewithin, an outer hinged cover for the case provided with an actuating portion movable with the cover adjacent its hinged connection, a curved arm having one end mounted to resist movement in the plane of the arm, an abutting lug on an intermediate part of the arm, there being sumcient resiliency at such a location in that portion of the arm between the abutting lug and the movement resisting end of the arm to produce outward motion in the other end of the arm with respect to the lid by pressure inward on the lug With respect to the lid by the actuating portion of the cover in the Opening movement thereof, and a catch for the lid actuated by the outward movement of said other end of the curved arm to retract the catch whereby the lid is sequentially released for Opening movement.

2. In a case, an inner lid, an outer hinged cover for the case provided with an actuat'ing portion movable with the cover and extending into said case ladjacent its hinged connection, a tensioned bowed arm having one end formed into a pintle hinging the inner lid to the case and mounted to resist movement of the pintle end of the arm in the plane of the arm, said arm being provided at its other end with a catch securing the lid in its closed position, and an abutting lug near the middle of the arm, there being sufiicient resiliency at such a location in that portion of the arm between the abutting lug and the pintle to produce outward movement in the other end of the arm with respect to the lid by pressure inward on the lug by the actuating portion of the cover in the Opening movement thereof to retract the catch whereby the lid is sequentially released for opening movement.

3. In a case. an inner lid, an outer cover having a hinged mounting on the case and provided with a projecting actuating portion movable with the outer cover adjacent the hinged mounting, and a one-piece arm provided at one end with a terminal pintle hinging the inner lid to the case, said arm being provided at the other end with a catch for the inner lid, said arm having its intermediate portion located in the path of the projecting portion of the outer cover and arranged to be engaged by the same to retract the catch whereby the lid is sequentially released for opening movement.

4. The combination with a case having a chamber bounded by an annular wall, of an inner hinged lid for closing said chamber, an outer cover hinged on said case and having an actuating portion movable With the cover adjacent its hinge, an annular arm extending partially around said wall and having one end mounted to resist movement in the plane of the arm in a direction away from the body of the arm, said arm having a lug at an intermediate point adapted to be actuated by said actuating portion of the cover, and a catch at the other end of said arm arranged to hold said lid normally in its closed position and to be actuated by said arm upon inward movement of said lug by said actuating portion of said cover to release said lid for Opening movement.

5. The combination with a case having a chamber bounded by an annular wall, of an inner hin'ged lid for closing said chamber, an outer cover hinged on said case and having an actuating portion movable with the cover adjacent its hinge, an angular arm extending partially around said wall and having one end mounted to resist movement in the plane of the arm in a direction away from the body of the arm, said arm having a lug at an intermediate point adapted to be actuated by said actuating portion of the cover, and a catch at the other end of said arm arranged to hold said lid normally in its closed position and to be actuated by said arm, said arm having such resiliency in that portion of the arm between said lug and said first mentioned end that inward pressure on said lug by said actuating portion upon Opening said cover will -cause said arm to actuate said catch to release said lid.

HARRY J. OSBORNE. 

